Question

Are humans chemoheterotrophs?

Answer 1

Chemoheterotrophic nutrition is the type of nutrition where an animal derives its energy from chemicals that are obtained by consuming other organisms. One thing to remember is that the food we eat like fruits and vegetables, all are made up of some simple chemicals. These chemicals are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, etc.

Complete answer:
Now we shall understand the fact that whether humans are chemoheterotrophs or not.
Yes, indeed we humans are chemoheterotrophs. One thing is very clear that we are heterotrophs and we cannot make our own food. The food we eat is derived from other plants and animals of the lower trophic levels and that food is actually organic matter, which consists of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, etc. These all are complex chemicals that are broken down into simpler forms by our digestive system and which are then absorbed and metabolized in the body.
For example, the proteins are broken down into simple amino acids; starch and other carbohydrates are broken down into simpler monosaccharides like glucose.
The source or the energy currency cell in the body is ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). The breaking down of bonds of the ATP releases energy. Thus, we can see that actually the energy produced due to metabolism is solely due to breaking down of bonds, formation of bonds, transfer of electrons, and other activities which fall under the category of chemistry.

Thus, humans are actually chemoheterotrophs.

Note:
One should not get confused between chemoheterotrophs and chemoautotrophs. Although both of them derive their energy requirements from chemicals, they have a marked difference. The chemoautotrophs can make their own food by a complex set of reactions. They actually derive the electrons and protons from inorganic molecules. But the chemoheterotrophs take up their energy by consuming other organisms.